Temporary Australian visa holders to get higher wages

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The minimum salary for people on an Australian visa has been increased by the government today. People on an temporary Australian visa, subclass 457, will see the minimum salary increased by 3.8 per cent from August this year.

It is part of plans to improve the temporary visa offering for people engaged in immigration to Australia. Senator Chris Evans, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, said: "This increase will apply to new temporary skilled migrants coming to work in Australia as well as those already in the workforce who are subject to an MSL [minimum salary level]."

He added that the increase was in line with the Bureau of Statistics employees earnings increase in 2006-07. Senator Evans added the move would protect Australian visa holders from exploitation in the workplace and preserve their earnings power.

The standard MSL is now AZ$43,440 (£21,040) per annum, compared to AZ$41,850 the previous year. The changes will apply to 24,000 temporary skilled workers engaged in Australian immigration, according to the Senator. The government recently awarded AZ$19.6 billion to improving the temporary worker scheme in the country.